Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-25
AFTER GEN. LEES SURRENDER.
The Confederate Commander at the Su-
preme Moment of Trial.

| The Confederate Commander Mt the Su.
preme Moment of Trial.
After little general conversation had
been indulged in by those present, the
| two letters were signed and delivered and
the parties prepared to separate. Lee be-
! fore parting asked Grant 10 notify Meade
OF the surrender, fearing that fighting
! might break ont on that front and lives
be uselcSSly lost. This request was com
piled with, and two Union officers were
| sent through the enemy's lines as the
shortest rontc to MeaGe-sume f Lees
officers accompanying them 10 revent
their being interfered with At little
before O'Clock Gen. Lee shook hands
with Gen. Grant. bowed To the other Off
GERS and with Col. Marshall left the room
One after another we followed and passed
out TO the porch.
Lee signaied 10 his orderly to bring up
his horse, and while the animal was being
bridled the general stood on the lowest
step and eazed sadly in the direction of
the valley beyond where his army lay
now an army of prisoners. He smote his
hands together number Of times in an
absent sort Of a way; seemed not to see
the group of Union officers in the yard
who rose respectfully at his approach. and
appeared unconscious of everything about
him. All appreciated the sadness which
overwhelmed him. and he had the per
sonal sympathy of every one who beheld
him at this supreme moment Of trial. The
approach of his horse seemed 10 recall him
from his reverie and he at once mounted
Gen. Grant now stepped down from the
porch, and moving towards him, saiuted
him by raising his hat. He WAS followed
III this act ot courtesy by all our officers
present; Lee raised his hat respectfully ia
acknowledgment and rode OFF to break the
SID news TO the brave fellows whom he
had SO long commanded.
Gen. Grant and his staff then mounted
and started for the headquarters camp.
which in the meantime had been pitched
near by. The news of the surrender had
reached the Union lines and the firing of
salutes began at several points. but the |
general sent orders al once TO have them
stopped, and used these words in refer |
ring to the occurrence: The war is over.
the rebels are our couGtrymen again. and |
'he best sign of rejoicing after the victory |
Will he to abstain from all demonstrations |
In the field"
Mr.. Mclean had been charging about |
In a manner which indicated that the eN- |
citement was shaking his system 70 its |
nervous center. but his real trials lid no; |
begin until the departure OF the chief |
actors in the surrender. Then the relic
hunters charged down upon the manor |
house and made various attempts to Jump
Mr.. McLean's claims TO his own fnrni-
ture. Sheridan set a good example, how
ever, By paving the proprietor twenty
dollars in gold for the table at which Lee
sat for the purpose of presenting i, 10 Mrs.
Custer, and handed it over TO her dashing
husband, who started off for camp bear
ing il upon his shoulder. and looking
Ike Atlas carrying the world. Ord paid
forty dollars for the table at which Grant
sat, and afterwards presented il To Mrs.
Grant, who modeotly declined il and in
sisted that it should be given to Mrs Ord.
who then became its poSsessor Bargains
were at once struck for all the articles in
the room, and it is even said that some
mementos were carried off in the shape of
iiowers and other things for which no
noin of the realm was ever exchanged
zen. Horace Porter in The Century